NBA summer report: Goudelock the guy in early-going

SAMAMICO

FS Ohio

News, notes and personal observations on the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas:

• Some of you may remember Andrew Goudelock, the little guard who most recently played for the
Los Angeles Lakers. Most of you probably won’t. Either way, just know that Goudelock is looking really good -- averaging 28.5 points in his first two games (in 28 minutes per game, no less) with the
Chicago Bulls.

• Goudelock is entering his third season. He spent portions of the first two with the Lakers, who drafted him in the second round (46th overall) in 2011. He’s 6-foot-3 (on a good day), and is more of a natural shooting guard than point. He often looks to score immediately upon receiving the ball, and can really fill it up once he gets it going. He may not make the Bulls, but he’ll be on a training camp roster somewhere this fall.

• And keep an eye out for Stefhon Hannah, a 6-1 point guard for the D-League select squad. He’s averaging 18.5 points and a whopping 3.0 steals.

• Meanwhile, second-year guard Dion Waiters of the
Cleveland Cavaliers looks to me like he’s dogging it a little. That’s not a criticism as much of an observation. Waiters is averaging 14.0 points through three games, but shooting a shade under 30 percent from the field. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. Summer ball doesn’t seem to be his thing.

• But how about
Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas? Granted, it’s just summer league, but he’s scoring 21.0 points and ripping down 10.0 rebounds through two games. The Raptors have high hopes for Jonas V, and it’s easy to see why.

• One of my favorite guys this summer, guard
Lester Hudson, is averaging 11.7 points for the Lakers. If there’s one thing that’s clear, it's that Hudson has learned the art of shot selection since his previous stint in the NBA (2011-12).

• Another favorite, Bulls forward Malcolm Thomas, has looked great on his way to 12.0 points and a Vegas-best 16.0 rebounds in two games. This guy is gonna stick somewhere.

• Back to the Cavs. When I told one GM I didn’t recognize more than three names on the roster, he responded: “You’re not gonna need to.” That says all you need to know about Vegas.

• Bulls second-year point guard Marquis Teague leads Vegas in assists at 7.0. That means a member of the Bulls leads every major statistical category (points, rebounds, assists). For what it’s worth.

• I’ve also been impressed with
Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Lorenzo Brown, picked in the second round last month (52nd overall). Brown has only averaged 8.0 points and 2.5 assists in his first two games. But he’s big (6-5) and never forces anything, letting the game come to him. He could make the Wolves’ roster, especially now that
Luke Ridnour has been traded (
Oklahoma City Thunder).

• Neither of the Cavs’ first-round picks is playing. Forward and No. 1 overall selection Anthony Bennett is recovering from an injured shoulder, and swingman Sergey Karasev (19th overall) is playing in something called the World University Games.

• Of Karasev’s performance, the website
RealCavsFans.com tweeted: “Only the second game I’ve seen Karasev play, so this means little, but it looks like the Cavs have gotten a legit NBA player in the draft.”

• Oh, and finally, I am watching the games from the comfort of my Akron, Ohio, couch -- not Las Vegas. As I tweeted already, I'm afraid if I went to Vegas I'd probably ignore the basketball and wake up to find Mike Tyson's tiger in my hotel room.